Apparatus for decorating pottery ware



Feb. 27, 1951 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERYWARE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 AT ENE! Feb. 27, 1951 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERYWARE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 8, 1945 INVENTOR. Iii/[21am J )[z'llefi Feb. 27, 1951 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERYWARE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNE Y.

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INVENTOR WZZ/z'zzm 11/12/911 Patented F eb. 27, 1951 armmrrosnoannoonammerromrrnny WARE i iam -M !er w s .Ba as i n it 'mi er Pottery 'Engineering :Company, 'Swissvale, Pa.,-a corporation-of Pennsylvania ,Original application Ja 1 11a1 y fi, .1943, Serial No.

4713M. Divide d1 and this. application'lseptem- ,ber 1 2,,lfi lifSelialNo.553,783

:7 Glaims. 1

This is a divisional ofjmyco-pending application-S. N. 471 704 filed January '8, --1'9 l 3, Patent No. 2,407,321.

This invention relates to'methods and apparatus-for decorating'pottery ware. It has to do particularly with the manufacture of ware such as jiggered dinnerware, for instance,-plates, eups and. saucers, bowls and the like.

The mass production ofpotteryware by 'automatic machine and processes has involved a certain amountof manual intervention, particularly in'the treatment and preparation of raw materials and in certain phases of -clay,-vvare and mold transportation, manipulation and processing.

One of the objects; of this inventionis to place the manufacture of pottery'ware on as near a fully automatic basis as possible all the way from the raw'material stageto=that of'dried product ready'for first firing. Bysubstantially eliminating-the human element in this respect, it is possible to remove handic apswhich have heretofore interfered with;the'continuity, qualityand rate of production.

Another and perhaps more important object of this inventionis toprovidefor making-simultaneously severaldifferent-lginds ofwa re,-that is to'say, ware having differences in "shape, size, decorative pattern or'material and even composition by means of a "single, unitary -mechani'cal organization. "This invention eomprehends machinery capable of performing many' ancl 'different steps, and combinations of stepsin the-manufacture of pottery ware some ofwhichareconventional steps oroperations'and others ofwhich afiord new and improved ways and means of making pottery ware of this class.

The machinery of the present invention isso constructed and arranged that different .sequences of operations maybeper'formedat the same time and variations 1 -in=the sequences and procedural steps-may be madeat willand'in some cases while the machinery isin'operation. :Thus, insofar as production diversification is'concer-ned, it-may be varied from one which-is highlydiversilied to one whereinsubstantially'little or noJ-diversification occurs. Thus l-provide. in a single unitary instal1ation the means of meeting :-.the daily requirements of the average pottery whether it be e for largeon small amounts of 'pottery of given shape ordesign and it is well known that these requirements may var-y widely, particularly if the pottery merehandizes:- a large- 1mm her of shapes and designs.

Instead of the-intermittent fabricating system as illustrated inthe patent to MiHer No. 2,046,525,

l I; propose to make the present system continuous,

somewhatas showrrin the application to wil liam J .--Miller,- Serial No.=4;13,7-34,-iiled cctober 6, 1941, now Patent-No. 2309;1-72. That is to say, from the 'beginning "of fabricating operations tothe point when the ware is removed from the -dryer and therebeyond, the materials will :move in continuousdashion whilst the various fabricating operations are performed. This makes for -increased production speeds and raisesthe capacity of the machinery. Furthermore,- clay is' supplied tothe fabricating portion of-the present mechanical organization by asystem-and apparatus disclosed -in application *Serial No/4545716 filed August l 13, 1942 to -William;J.-Mil-1er, now- Patent No. 241-3;3-30.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2' and 3, taken together to Imatch-end to end-'in their order lengthwiseiromi left to right constitute agdiagrammaticview in planof the entire ware production-system of the invention.

"Fig. 4 is a view I partly in elevation and partly in sectionpf one of the j rotary "decorating machines'of thesystem' employed to eitherdecorate the ware directly or throughintermediation of the 'molds.

Fig. 5 is a plan section; of the decorating machine, as takenfon the irregular sectionline- 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section-taken substa m tially on the sectionline=6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig; 7 is a detail planseetion' taken on the section 'line="l lof'Fig. 4.

Fig. '8, is fa detail front elevation-of one of the decoratingorganizations of the -machine of'Figk l.

Fig.19is an enlarged detail view of "a mutiiated gear and'rackassembly seen in Figl.

Fig. 10 is antenlarged detail planjsection taken substantiallyjon the 'section li'ne l fl.,' i! of FigF8, with certain parts in changed position.

"Fig. 11, isan'enlarged detail plan section taken on the section jline "l l-- I l 'of Fig. 4, illustrating one of the pump units employed.

.Fig. 12 'is an. enlarged fragmentary sectional view of. a. m mberv of assoc ia te d ware decorating parts seen in;Fig. 4. with. said parts broughteloser together vthan seen in said -figure.

:Figs. 13,;14, 15,; 16: and. l7;v are viewsf illustrating modified terms; of the parts seenin Fig. 1.21 producing,;-various decorative-patterns;or formations on the .-.Waredirect1y or indirectly through themolds.

:Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional 4 ievv of ,a piece .-.of ware gdecorated by ;the parts seen in FiglZ.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view of a piece of ware decorated by the parts seen in Fig. 13.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary view of a piece of ware decorated by the parts seen in Fig. 16.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view of a piece of ware decorated by the parts seen in Fig. 15.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 3, the system includes an endless flexible mold conveyor comprising a series of centrally open mold carriers or positioning rings 52 interconnected in equally spaced relation by flexible links or cable sections 53. The conveyor is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane while traveling continuously in a tortuous path about idler sprockets and rotary machines of the system by having outboard supporting rollers 54 riding on rails 55.

The molds for forming four types of ware are carried in the rings 52 in duplicate successive sets which, in the course of the conveyor, are brought into co-operative relation with a series of rotary machines til, 6!, E2, 63 and 84 designed to respectively condition the molds, treat molds for a certain method of ware decoration, treat molds for another method of ware decoration, further condition the treated molds and treat molds for engobing certain ware. These machines are selectively used.

The molds then continue to a series of rotary machines 65, 65 and 67 designed to selectively feed clay charges of similar or of different composition or conditioned clay bodies to the molds and puddle and partially form the charges correlatively with respect to the ware forming surfaces of the molds prior to feeding. The charge feeding machines may be supplied from an enclosed clay preparation organization, designated for purposes of location by the letter R, Fig. 1, this organization being designed to simultaneously and continuously prepare the various clay bodies desired from the various plastic and nonplastic materials required and selectively feed same to the machines.

After receiving the charges, the molds continue to a series of rotary machines TI to 93 inclusive, designed to selectively perform various forming, conditioning and decorating operations to produce the ware.

The molds then pass through a drier 95 for an optimum period to dry to leather hardness certain ware to be appendaged, such as cups or like, which are then conveyed out of the drier at a take-off station E to a rotary machine 95 which transfers same from an upright position in the molds to an inverted position in co-operative relation with an appendaging machine 97, the transfer machine also being designed to fettle and smooth the ware prior to being transferred.

The molds are then returned into the drier and are conveyed past take-off stations F and G lo cated along the conveyor course and are brought at predetermined points into co-operative relation, respectively, with rotary machines 98 and 59 designed to transfer other types of ware, each requiring a different drying period, to suitable conveying apparatus IE0 and lill arranged to convey the ware to suitable locations for further treatment. These machines are also designed to fettle, smooth and reverse or reposition the ware incident to transferring same, if desired.

Upon leaving the drier, the molds are advanced to a rotary machine I02 employed to lay to the molds or reform thereon partly dried ware that may have become slightly distorted during drying and being especially of use as located, in an in stallation or an adaptation of the system wherein no type of ware is completely dried in the dryer. However, if the system is adjusted so that the ware leaving the dryer is too dry for the reforming operation, said machine I02 or number of same may be disposed along the conveyor course adjacent one or each of the take-off or transfer stations E, G, and F.

From the reforming machine I02, the molds continue to another rotary transfer machine I03 co-operating with a conveying system [03a to transfer the various types of ware that may remain on the conveyor to any one or a number of selected locations for further treatment, the machine being designed to fettle and smooth the ware and reverse the position thereof if desired.

Upon leaving the transfer machine I63, the empty molds are advanced to a rotary machine I fi l co-operating with a conveying system l04a to remove any one or all the molds of each set and transfer same to a suitable location for storage when changing the system over to the production of a different type or types of ware, or when damaged or worn molds require replacement for repair.

The next machine H15 along the course of the conveyor is also of the rotary type designed to cooperate with a conveying system 185a for transferring molds for a certain type or types of ware from one or more storage locations and placing same in the emptied mold carriers in any desired order.

The molds then continue to a rotary conditioning machine I06 designed to remove any foreign matter from the molds, and then continue to another conditioning machine I01 employed to apply to all the molds, or only those which have just been placed on the conveyor, a conditioning medium, such as oil. The molds then pass through a conditioning zone I88 comprising a tunnel within which the air is suitably heated or otherwise conditioned to dry or otherwise put the molds in a proper condition as they return to complete another cycle of operation.

Generally, the machines are of the rotary table type, about the tables of which the conveyor meshes to remain in co-operative relation with each machine during a sufficient portion of its rotation to perform the various operations on the molds 01' ware.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, a power unit [99, such as a combination motor and adjustable speed reducer is employed to constantly drive the machines and mold conveyor in synchronism. through a power shaft iilila and suitable gearing 10% co-operating between same and the rotary machines i3, 8|, 83 and 93 which thus serve as driving connections for the conveyor at spaced intervals therealong and whereby the conveyor in turn serves as a driven connection for the rotary machines with which it meshes between said intervals. It is also contemplated that the conveyor and any number or all of the said rotary machines and idlers defining its course may be independently or collectively driven in timed relation.

Of the various methods to be employed in decorating the ware, one is to apply the decorating medium to the mold to be transferred to the ware as it is formed thereon. Another method is to apply the decorating medium directly to the Ware either immediately or during a predetermined time after jiggering or before or after it has been fired. Then again, the medium may of a=pedestal Ill supporting the :IOWEI'LBIId of :a &central i hollow shaft M2 on which :rotatesea" turret lpockets H4 and sheave-formations 11.5 therebetween to respectively receive the carriers :and .cable sections of the conveyor'as'it meshes to .an 5120 =ccnveyor: .to efiectthe decorating-operation. :optimum degree therearound.

.asae rsa be a dye or enamel or thelikeporfit'may becolored -.clay applied to .the were ato form 3 inlayed finincrusted .or embossed 'ornamental formations, or

itmay be impressed into the green warewitha'or without a coloring medium i application.

Therefore, the. machinefil to=which-:the molds are advanced after leaving .themoldconditioning machine, has been designed for .use in carrying out these various decorating methods, but :is illustrated in Figures 24 to -.13- as I being adapted to apply, for instance,inlaidcormelief ornamental -1clay .fcrmationson a piece-of ware &l- 9, as seen .in Figures l81to '21, inclusive.

ITO 'thlS end, the machine includes a base 1.10

having equally @spaced .thereabout Afterthe moldcarriersare positioned in the pockets of the table, each moldiselevatedzfrom its carrier by a vertically.reciprocable chuck [a and brought into register Withxfi'dECOl'fitll'lQ device ilfi, which then reciprocates into contact with the moldsurface .and applies the .orna- .mental clay formations .168 thereon (Fig. 1.2), the device remainjngincontact with the :mold

'6 molds; with aalockanut l-89a arranged-ron1thezstem etc. hold .the device :in: adjusted positions.

During .the intermediate portion of the stroke rofreachscrosshead: l'-.83,;the shaft l 86.carr-iedthereibyjs rotated1l80 .degrees to reverse the decoratzingidevice, .byssaidshafthaving a mutilated; gear #590 'co-toperating ,with a rack :l-SI on a *bracket it92;of.:the;druml8l (Figs'l, 9:and. 10). To hold ztherdecoratingedevice in reversed ,positions durll'O :ing the Lend ;.portions of its stroke :50 that its aplaten engages land .disengages the mold and .zznatrixiin' aIignment-andcIears same beforelbeing :reversed,.the:-shaftl-86@has.a square cam E93 arranged .to have sliding engagement with guides Hi l at the ends of the.rack-l9i.

Arrangedin; the -:drum and secured to i the .cen- .tral:.sha'it'i=12 .is .awgrooved ;cam: :95 for co-operatringiwith rollers 1% on thecrossheads to reciproscatelsa-me !in -.proper timed .relaticn with .the

.sAsz-seen indiigs. grand 142, each-matrix device :l8fl comprises 'a hollow head formed by a -:base .rzet and a: matrimmember .202. detachably secured tothehaseabyzboltsdflm and-formed correlatively :with ithe :platen of its associated decorating devvice .toqcoverrsame' when engaged thereby. rE-ach matrix head .is'zmounted on-a bracket-2M of the (drum 181:.for adjustment .withnfiespect tozits asesociated eplaten,1:by:.its base 1202 having an ;up-

a suflicien 'p ri o m op a p i n 8310 irigh-t:threadedzstemrZEIZcxadjustably rneldiin a head-formed by a-base portionI'l-l .-and:L-a-. pl-aten member 518 detachably secured-to the base by bolts Ilsav and correl-atively-formed :withreepect to the-ware forming surface of :the mold it cooperates with.

serts I182) .having molding recesses 119 from which the coloredclay ornaments are deposited -on the surfaces -of the-mold when "the .platen contacts same (see .-.Fig. :12). .Thus when the ware has been formed-on.the.-.mold,..said:orna- .mentations are inlayed in 'the normally visible surface or .side of the ward-especially flatware, such asplates asseen.in-.Fig.:18. TIhe inserts .of

each platen are m-adeof permeable materialand,

as it contacts the moldrsurface, airunder-pressure is forced therethroughto :release the clay ornamentations: from the recesses and apply them to the mold. Also,-.the surfacesof the molds may be suitably treated by the machine .6! -.tc .cause the ornamentationstoadhere thereto, .at least temporarily after application.

When -.eachdecorating device H6 :is raised to its uppermost limit, its position. is reversed. during the intermediate portion oflits stroketo bringv its .platendnto operative relation witheaimatrix device 18% which supplies charges .of .variously colored clays-to the lrecessesrof the platen. .For this purpose, onthe :table H3 .is a-concentric supporting drum i8! having spaced .thereabout four vertical guidewayspeach formed by guide vbars E82 between which is guided for vertical reciprocation, a crosshead [.83. .Each crosshea'd has a pair of lateral-arms 1&4 withrbearings H rotatably supporting a-;horizontal.--shaft 186 .on which is a hollow supportinghead I.B'| carrying one of decoratingidevices H5. The base of each decorating .device'hasa threaded central boss 588 threadedon athreaded stem -.l89of.its support head for adjustment .with respect to Mounted in openings in the 140 platen face, .forreplacementpare decorating inbearing #241212 .of therbracketzby'nuts 2026. De- .ta'chably securedinpbored cut ;p0rtions 2022) :in the-matrix :face are 1' molding i members :or inserts ill'zifor: coeoperatingaWith-rtheLinSer-ts i 'lflbcof' the I platen i l 118: to moldntherornamentations,zthe: mold- Iing members having ports 2103a of small diameter from wh-i-ch the colored ori'natural 'clay isfedito the molding cavities formed betweensame and ithe said platen inserts when engagedthereby.

Inc-ident'to iilling of l the recesses in the platen, "and While the platen is loweredinto contact with the-m'oldgthe decorating head I15 is--vacuumized 'tohold the 'clay charges 'in the-recesses of the platen-inserts before-air under pressure 'is ad- 'mitted into thehead to' release the charges when contacting the mold. T0 this end, --as each deccrating head moves toward'and'engages the'mo-ld, it is "connected "successively "with a vacuum line :Z'EEandan air pressure line 2% by Wayof a com- "bination distributor -and valve device 207, 'onthe {shaft .172, afiexible 'conduititfifi leading there- "from, a passagetfi' fig in'each crosshead leading to an.;annular passage-way? Ififormed between one 1of'the crosshead'bearings' IcSand the supporting head i 8?, and passage-ways? I tan-(1Z2 12 formed in .saidlhead .and'the stem C189 thereof (see Figs. 4, "5 an'd'lO) To further insure retention of the clay charges in the recesses Il'i ofthe platen inserts While the ,platenisin motion, clay anchoringiformations ,[ISia may beprovi'dedinor on .the'bottomwall eofthelrecesses, as seen in Fig. 12.

-The,.portsld3a of themolding members 262 may .be selectively supplied from any one of a series .of .difierently .colored clay supply lines H5, ZIG

.and,2.l.?,.by way of valved branches 2 18 of each lineleading -.to headers 2 E9 of conduits 2 2 ll '2 2 i and 222,..distributors. 223 on the central 'shaftl'lZ .co eoperating with the conduits. respectively, pip- .ing 2.24 connecting .with -the ports .through passage-ways .224; in the matrix. base .286, nozzles .-.22 lbcnlthamatrix. member .202 extending. in the bores -2fi'2b intoconnectionwith .said ports,.and

,pumps .225. interposed. inthe. piping.

The pumps 225 are of the cylinder and adjustable stroke piston type arranged in sets on the drum l8! for their respective matrix heads, each set being operated simultaneously at the proper time, to feed a predetermined volume of clay, by a normally stationary cam 226 on the central shaft through spring-pressed levers 221 connecting with the pump pistons. To regulate the capacity of each pump in accordance with that required for the ornamentations, each pump (see Fig. 11) has a piston rod extension 228 extending through an end wall bearing 229 of the pump cylinder with an adjustable stop or nut 230 threaded thereon to engage the bearing in determining the return stroke limit of the piston.

The molding inserts 203 of the matrices may be of permeable material and incident to discharge of clay from the ports 263a thereof, air under pressure may be forced therethrough to eject the charges therefrom by the annular space of the bores 26% formed over said inserts being connected with the air-pressure line 206 by way of a combination distributor and valve 23! on the central shaft, a flexible conduit 232 leading therefrom into connection with the chamber 23211 in the matrix head and passages 2321) connecting the chamber with the bore portions 2822).

Each of the colored clay supply lines 2l5, 2H5 and 2i? may supply the same or a different type of clay supplied thereto by the clay preparation system R, with each line having interposed therein a coloring device 235 to color the clay as it passes therethrough. In this way, the ornamental clay designs applied to the various types of ware may be of the same composition or character as that of the body of the ware so that the drying and firing behavior of both will be the same.

If it is desired to decorate the ware by applying different colored clay incrusted ornamentations in relief, as seen at 236, Fig. 19, same may be produced by forming suitable molding recesses 23'! in the molding surfaces of the molds (Fig. 13) and providing the molding inserts 263 of the matrices therefor with corresponding recesses 238 from which the charges are transferred by the associated decorating head 116.

Before the molds are raised off the conveyor carriers by the chucks "a, they are rotated in the carriers by the chucks into a predetermined angular position with respect to the platens, so that any selected surface formations thereof adapted to receive the charges from the recesses N9 of the platen inserts, such as the recesses 231,

may be brought into co-operative alignment therewith. By so spotting the molds eliminates the necessity of their being carried in the carriers in a predetermined angular position.

For this purpose, each chuck l'l5a, Figure 4, is mounted on the top end of a vertical shaft "5b reciprocable within and in sliding key connection with a sleeve I'iiic rotatably mounted in a bearing llEd of a wheel l'ifie on the central shaft 112 and connected with the table H3 thereabove. The shaft H5]; is reciprocated to raise and lower the chuck by a lever H57 actuated by a stationary cam H59 on the central shaft [12. On the cam is a cam dwell portion l15h which causes the chuck to temporarily halt intermediate its lowered and raised positions when elevated. While the chuck is halted, it is rotated by the sleeve [150 a predetermined amount, to at least complete one revolution, whereby the chuck is caused to be connected with the mold by a spring-pressed key or detent [Hit in the its upper edge arranged to snap into a notch I157 formed in an annular surface 15k of the mold, upon which surface the detent slides in a depressed position before snapping into the notch and causing the mold to rotate with the chuck into its predetermined angular position before its final upward movement into co-operative relation with the platen (see Fig. 12) After the chuck returns the mold to the carrier, when lowered it is rotated in a reverse direction to its original position by the sleeve preparatory to another cycle of operation. Each sleeve I150 is oscillated or rotated in opposite directions at the proper time by a cylinder and piston fluidpressure motor I15m carried on the wheel ll5e, and on whose piston rod Il5n is a rack gear I150 guided in a guideway H572 of the bearing HM and co-operating with a gear I'i5q on the sleeve to oscillate same upon reciprocation of the piston (see Fig. 6). To regulate the angular position to which the molds are rotated by the chucks, each piston rod 5n has an abutment I157 arranged to engage an adjustable stop or screw s threaded in a lug of the bearing [15d to limit the forward stroke of the rack gear 1750.

Each fluid motor M5771 is energized at the proper time from the air-pressure line 206 through a distributor 206a and a four-way valve 20Gb operated by adjustable arms 2960 on the central shaft and connected with both ends of the motor cylinder by valved conduits 206d to regulate the phase and speed of oscillation of the chuck.

Each shaft I151) may have a central duct 206e opening into the chuck thereon and connected with the vacuum line 295 through a combination distributor and valve 206i and, similar in construction to that shown in Figure '7, flexible conduit 206g, to vacuumize the chuck to hold the mold therein after same has been angularly positioned by the chuck.

The machine 62 to which the molds are next advanced may be another decorating machine in carrying out the printing method of decorating wherein ceramic pigment, colored paint or other printing media are employed.

This machine may constitute a duplicate of the machine 6| wherein the platens I18 would be adapted to print the ornamentations on the molds from suitably formed pads or cuts 240 provided on decorating inserts 240a detachably secured in the openings of the platen (see Fig. 17). These pads may be inked by their associated matrix 202 from permeable pads 24! on inking inserts 24 la detachably secured in the bores 2822) in the matrix face and having a passage or passages 2 H?) therein co-operating between the pad and the associated nozzle 263 (Fig. 12) in the bore whereby the pad ma be constantly or intermittently supplied a measured amount of the printing medium from a pump 225. In this case, the supply lines 2l5, 216 and 2|! (Fig. 4) would be selectively connected with sources of supply of variously colored printing media, instead of the clay preparation system.

While Fig. 17 illustrates the printing apparatus adapted to print on a plain mold surface, in imparting a plain printed design or adornment to the ware when formed thereon, Fig. 16 illustrates an adaptation of the apparatus for applying the printing medium to a decorating formation 23'! of the mold, in producing ware with an integral embossed decorating formation 231a (Fig. 20) adorned with a colored coating, which coating may be colored clay or any other coating medium. This also applies to the production of ware havin escapee recessed decorative formations, as seen at 2311;,

Fig; 121.

The machine 63: to-which theniolds are next advanced, is provided to condition the decorations applied by the machines 6;! .and .62.. Such conditioning may comprise applying, a liquid bonding medium and/or .a fluid drying medium to the decorations, such as hot 'air under pres.- -sure, to at least partially hardensame sufficiently towithstand forming of the ware thereover. For this purpose, this machine may comprise -a duplicate .of the machine 60, as seen in Fig. 1, with the supply lines Hi8 and thereof supplying the desired media for different types of decorations.

The molds are then advanced to the machines 64 arranged to further treat certain molds in producing engobed ware with the decorations over the engobing, which may comprise .a thin For. this supply lines [48 to I51 supplying the variously 'colored fluid engobing medium :or clay slipsef the same of different compositions from the clay preparation system H and whereby said medium would be sprayed over the molding surfaces and decorations thereon to be transferred to the ware when formed thereon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a continuously movable mold-carrying conveyor provided with mold carriers, apparatus for applying a fluid ware-surfacing medium to molds carried b the conveyor comprising a rotatable support provided with spaced pockets for receiving said carriers, a medium applicator carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said pockets, a medium feeder carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said applicators, means for moving said applicators and feeders one toward the other for transferring a supply of said medium from the feeders to the applicators, means for moving said applicators and said molds one toward the other for depositing said supply on said molds, and mechanism for synchronously and continuously moving said conveyor and rotatable support.

2. In combination With a continuously movable mold-carrying conveyor provided with mold carriers, apparatus for applying a fluid waresurfaoing medium to molds carried by the conveyor comprising a rotatable support provided with spaced pockets for receiving said carriers, a verticall reciprocable medium applicator carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said pockets, a medium feeder carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said applicators, means carried by said support for moving said applicators up to said feeders for transferring a supply of said medium from the feeders to the applicators and for moving said applicators downwardly toward said molds for depositing said supply on said molds, and mechanism for synchronously and continuously moving said conveyor and rotatable support.

3. In combination with a continuously movable mold-carrying conveyor provided with mold carriers, apparatus for applying a fluid ware-surfacing medium to molds carried by the conveyor comprising a rotatable support provided with spaced pockets for receiving said carriers, a vertically :reciprocable mediumapplicator carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each-of said pockets, at medium feeder carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said applicators, means carried by said support for moving said applicators up tosaid feeders for transferring a supply of said medium from the feeders to the applicators anad for moving saidapplicators downwardly toward said molds for depositing said supply on said molds, mechanism for rotating said applica'tors on a horizontal axis during their upand downward movements to bring their medium receiving surfaces into contact with said 'feeders' and with said molds respectively, and mechanism for synchronously and continuously moving said-conveyor and rotatable support.

4. In combination with a continuously movable mold-carrying conveyor provided with mold carriers, apparatus for applying a fluid waresur'facing medium to molds carried by the conveyor comprising a rotatable support provided with spaced-pockets for receiving said carriers, a medium applicator carried by said support above and in vertical alignment 'witheach of said pockets, a medium feeder carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said applicators, means carried by said support below said pockets for lifting said molds upwardly into a medium applying position, means for moving said applicators and feeders one toward the other for transferring a supply of said medium from the feeders to the applicators, means for moving said applicators downwardly into said medium applying position for depositing said supply on said molds, and mechanism for synchronously and continuously moving said conveyor and rotatable support.

5. In combination with a continuously movable mold-carrying conveyor provided with mold carriers, apparatus for applying a fluid waresurfacing medium to molds carried by the conveyor comprising a rotatable support provided with spaced pockets for receiving said carriers, a vertically reciprocable medium applicator carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said pockets, a medium feeder carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said applicators, means carried by said support for moving said applicators up to said feeders for transferring a supply of said medium from the feeders to the applicators and for moving said applicators downwardly toward said molds for depositing said supply on said molds, mechanism for rotating said applicators on a horizontal axis during their upward and downward movements to bring their medium receiving surfaces into contact with said feeders and with said molds respectively, vacuum mean associated with each of said applicators for holding said medium supply on the applicators during said downward movement, and mechanism for synchronously and continuously moving said conveyor and rotatable support.

6. In combination with a continuously movable mold-carrying conveyor provided with mold carriers, apparatus for applying a fluid waresurfacing medium to molds carried by the conveyor comprising a rotatable support provided with spaced pockets for receiving said carriers, a medium applicator carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said pockets, a medium feeder carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said applicators, means carried by said support below said pockets for lifting said molds upwardly into a medium applying position, means for rotating said mold lifting means on their vertical axes an amount sufiicient to place desired surfaces of the molds in position to receive said medium applications, means for moving said applicators and feeders one toward the other for transferring a supply of said medium from the feeders to the applicators, means for moving said applicators downwardly into said medium applying position for depositing said supply on said molds, and mechanism for synchronously and continuously moving said conveyor and rotatable support.

In combination with a continuously movable mold-carrying conveyor provided with mold carriers, apparatus for applying a fluid waresurfacing medium to molds carried by the conveyor comprising a rotatable support provided with spaced pockets for receiving said carriers, a vertically reciprocable medium applicator carried by said support above and in vertical alignment with each of said pockets, a medium feeder carried by said support above and in vertical 12 alignment with each of said applicators, means carried by said support below said pockets for lifting said molds upwardly into a medium ap plying position, means carried by said support for moving said applicators up to said feeders for transferring a supply of said medium from the feeders to the applicators and for moving said applicators downwardly toward said molds for depositing said supply on said molds, and mechanism for synchronously and continuously moving said conveyor and rotatable support.

WILLIAM J. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 651,221 Weiss et al June 5, 1900 884,031 Mountford Apr. '7, 1908 1,181,912 Miller May 2, 1916 1,906,566 Friedl May 2, 1933 2,166,268 Simmons July 18, 1939 2,407,321 Miller Sept. 10, 1946 

